Operating-table.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

B. D. THORNER.

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED FEB. s. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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.WITNESSES: ...MW Fl".

PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

B. D. THORNER.

OPERATING- TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. 1907.

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I y I ll WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

B. D. THORNER.

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. e. 1907.

INVENTOR all!Il/ll/ll/lfl/fl'l/fllflflllllI/Ifllflll/Ill 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STAT s PATENT omnon.

BERNARD D. THORNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID FRANK, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND ONE-HALF TO JOHN TROUNSTINE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

OPERATING-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed February 6, 1907. Serial No- 355,999.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, BERNARD D. THORNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in operating tables for the use of surgeons, and it consists in the novel features, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide an operating table on which a patient may be more effectually and conveniently given a correct position; for abdominal operations and bandaging, and to this end the'table of my invention is provided at about its transverse-center, with a vertically movable support adapted to be raised and lowered at will. The table vis also provided with leaf sections disposed one on each side of the transverse support and adapted at their facing ends to be engaged with said support, so that upon the,elevating of the support said leaf sections may form a double incline extending downwardly from opposite edges of said support.

The table of my invention also comprises various details of construction. and equipment, all of which will be'understood from the description hereinafter presented.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure'I is a side elevation of an operating table constructed in v accordance with and embodying the invention; Fig.2

is a top view of same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section, partly broken away, through the table on the dotted line 330f Fig. 2, the central support'being indicated in its lower position by solid lines and in an upper position by'dotted lines; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached side elevation of a portion of the middle part of the table, this figure being presented,

to more fully illustrate the means for locking. the central support in its upper position; Fig. 5 is'anenlarged s vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the table and corresponds substantially with Fig. 3, Fig. 5

' however showing the central support by solid lines in its upper position and the leaf sections in edge view and as having been.carried upwardly at their inner ends witlr'said;v support so as to .forma double incline extending downwardly at opposite sides of said sup-' port; Fig. 6-. is a vertical transverse section through the table on,the"dotted'1ine 6+6 of 1, the central support being illustrated in; its lower position; and

Fig. Tis a like view of the same but illustrating a modification of a portion of the invention and the central supportbeing shown partly in section.

In the drawings I illustrate an operating table emmore particularly bodying my invention but utilizing certain features of usual and known construction. The features constituting my invention pertain to the vertically movable support 10 at the transverse center of the table, the movable leaf sections 11, 11 adapted at their inner ends to be elevated by said support, .means for connecting said leaf sections with said support, when desired, and means for raising and lowering said support 'and locking the same in its elevated position.

- The usual side frames of the table are designated by the numeral 12, and these frames are mounted upon rollers 13, and at 14 pivotally support the table top composed of a central section 15, a head frame 16' hinged thereto and a foot frame 17 hingedto said central section. The main table top may be given various positions by the adjustment of the head and foot frames and also by adjusting the entire top upon its pivotal supports in a well-understood manner and not necessary of description.

The present invention is confined to the itabletop comprising the hinged head and foot frames16, 17 and transverse middle section 15, 'and this section comprises an exterior encompassing frame composed of sides. 18, ends 19 and bottom 20, and within which are normally located the vertically movable support 10 and leaf sections 11. The center support 10 is in the form of'a transverse bar or frame preferably convex on its upper surface and wider at its top than at its lower portions. The support 10 while narrow is sufficiently wide to enabl'eit" to be used in properly supporting a patient in correct position for abdominal operations and the like, and the upper surface of said support is made convex so that it may be as comfortable as possible to the patient and locally place the part of the patient in the most correct position and condition for facilitating the operation.

The support 1Q. has fastened to its opposite ends plates 21 upon which are pivotally secured the pairs of plates 23 (Figs. 3 and 5) which are formed at their outer f ends with hooks 24 and at their inner portions are provided with pins 25 disposed within segmental slots 26 formed in the-cam-plates 27 which are secured upon a pivotrod29, and lie close against the plates 23 and one of which has a handle by which said plates 27 may be operated or turned from the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 to theposition shown in Fig. 5 and back to their initial position. The cam-plates 27 when turned to the right, as shown in Fig. 3, operate through the slots 26 and pins 25 to draw the plates 23 inwardly within the outline of the end-plates 21, and when said camplates are turned to the left they operate through the ;slots 26 and pins 25, as shown in Fig. 5, to project the hook-ends 24 of said plates outwardly below pins 28 carried at the inner corners of the leaf-sections 11, this being for the purpose of causing the central support 10 .said pins 28 and carry the inner ends of the leaf-sections 11 upwardly to the position denoted in Fig. 5. When it is desired to elevate the central support 10 without inclining the leaf-sections 11, the cam-plates 27 will be turned to the right, so as to carry the books 24 of the plates 23 inwardly, asshown in Fig. 3. beyond the plane of the pins 28, under which condition the support 10 may be moved upwardly without said hooks passing into engagement with said pins. The camplate 27 at one side of the table is fastened upon one end of the aforesaid rod 29 which extends across to the other side of the table and there carrics the other plate 27, and hence when the attendant by means of the handle on one plate 27 operates said plate to set the plates 23 at that side. of the table the corresponding plates 23 at the opposite side of the table will be corre spondingly actuated. It is therefore only necessary that one of the plates 27 be provided with a handle.

which 1 designate 30. The entire purpose of the plates 23 and cam-plates 27 at the ends of the support 10, is to enable said support when moving upwardly to, when desired, carry with it the inner ends of theleaf-scctions 11, and in order that said leaf-sections when carried upwardly may be adequately supported, 1 form the end plates 21 with shoulders 31 against which the lower edges of the plates 23 when the latter are spread out wardly may rest and be maintained in rigid position in opposition to any downward strains which may be exerted against them.

The central support 10 is formed with end-feet 32 (Figs. 6 and 7) which are secured, preferably detachably, upon a transverse bar 33 which is preferably integral with vertical side rack-bars 34. The bar 33 and raokbars 34 are vertically movable and carry the central support 10. The rack-bars 34 extend vertically through housings 35 secured to the sides of the middle table-section l5 and are engaged by gear-wheels 36 secured upon the end portions of a transverse shaft 37 mounted in said housings and having on one end a crank-arm 38 by which said shaft and the gear wheels 36 carried by it may be operated to raise or lower the rack-bars 34 and support 10. Upon the shaft 37 adjacent to the operating-crank 38, is secured a ratchet 39 (Fig. 4) adapted to be engaged by a pawl 40, the latter dropping over the teeth of the ratchet 39 during the raising of the support 10 but securely engaging said teeth to prevent reverse rotation of the wheel. The purpose of the ratchet 39 and pawl 40 is to lock the support 10 in any position to which it may beraised. When it is desired to lower the support 10 the dog 40 will be turned entirely from the ratchet 39 and then the attendant may readily impart through the crank handle 38 a reverse motion to the shaft 37 and gear wheels 36 for lowering the racks 34 and the said support carried thereby.

The feet 32 of the central support 10 may be-riveted to the transverse bar 33, but preferably the said feet will have formed in them vertical sockets 41 (Fig. 7) toengage vertical pins 42 carried by the bar 33, the

sockets 41 being adapted to fit closely upon the pins 42 and with saidpins detachably secure the support 10 When the feet 32 are rigidly secured the table by elevating the same until the rack bars 34 pass upwardly beyond the housings 35, but when the said support is detachably secured to the bar 33 it may be elevated directly from said barwithout disturbing the latter, and I prefer to detachably secure the support 10 to the bar 33 so that said support may be there-' by the more conveniently removed and cleaned. as occasion may require.

The support 10 should be provided with means for confining the patient at his opposite sides, and these means should be adjustable along the support 10 so that they may be adapted to the conditions to be met. In the drawings 1 illustrate. in Figs. l,to 6 inclusive. adjustable braces 43 carrying at their lower portions yokes 44 to encompass the top and sides of the support 10 and at their inner ends engage recesses 45 formed in the lower part of said support. When the bran es 43 are turned into a vertical position they may be freely slidalong the support 10 to any position desired. and when said braces are released to assume their normal inclined position, the inner ends'of the yokes 44 will engage recesses 45, as shown in Fig. (i. and the lower end of the braces will bear against the upper surface of the support 10, whereby said braces'become rigidly maintained in position. When braces 43 of the character shown in Fig. 6 are made use of I provide the ends of the body 1(1 with vertical grooves 46, as a means for permitting the entire removal of thelbraces when desired. When the braces 43 are turned into a vertical position. they may be freely slid to the ends of the support 10 and then moved vertically upward from said support, the inner ends of the yokes 44 passing upwardly through the grooves 46, the width of the support 10 through the grooves 46 being less than the width of the lover portion of the support in whichthe recesses 45 are formed. The braces 43, when turned into a vertical position. may he slid freely along the support 10 because when said braces are in such position the inner ends of the yokes 44 are just below those portions of the support in which said recesses are formed.

I do not wish to limit my invention to the employment'of the braces 43 of the'character shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, because it is entirely convenient to form the upper portion of the support 10, at the opposite sides of its center, with oppositely inclined holes or sockets 47 (Fig. 7) to receive the lower ends of brace rods 48. The sockets 47 correspond with one another, and hence the rods 48 may be placed at any desired point along the support 10, thereby varying the relation of said rods to one another or the space between them in accordance with the requirements of the patient.

The braces 43 and brace rods 48 perform like functions. and 1 illustrate the two forms of my invention to indicate that this application is not confined, in every instance, to any special braces for the -support 10 or to any special means for permitting the adjustment of said braces. y I

The leaf sections 11 comprise, by preference, metal o'upompassing frames 49 and glass slabs 50 seated the i' in, said frames 49 being mounted at their outer ends upon rollers 51 carried by them and at their inner ends upon studs or short legs 52. The leaf sections 11 Bit within the encompassing frame for the middle table section 15 and are disposed one at each side of the support 10. The rollers51 and legs 52 of the leaf sections 11 rest upon the bottom 20 of the middle table section the head and ,foot portions of the patient while his ab inner position, shown in Fig. 3, or if at the time they inwardly by the attendant who will impart a reverse desired the support 10. maybe elevated without the 15,.as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. At the inner ends of the sections 11 the frames 49 thereof are provided with inmay be moved upwardly to the inclined position shown l in Fig. 5 during the raising of the central support 10,

or may be allowed to remain in their lower position while the said support is raised alone.

The method of employing the table will largely be understood from the foregoing description. The central support 10 may be raised and lowered at will b 1 means of the crank handle 38,.gear wheels 36,-rack bars 34 and transverse supporting bar 33, and support may be locked in its upper position by means ofthe ratchet 39 and pawl 4Q. Whnitisjdesiiedthat the leaf sections 11 shall be inclinedupwardly, the attendant, before elevating the support 10,will throw the cam-plates 27 in a direction to force the hook-plates 23 outwardly below the vertical plane of the pins 28 on said leaf sections 11, and thereupon the inner ends of said sections will be elevated during any upward movement of the'support '11. When it is-desired to" elevate the support 10 without the'leaf sections 111, the hook-plates 23 will. be permitted to remain at their should be intheir outer position, they will be forced movement to the cam-plates 27. If it should be so leaf sections 11, and thereafter the attendant may manually elevate the-inner ends of saidsections and drop the pins 28 iuto the hooks'24, thereby obtaining the same result that is accomplished with the use of the cam-plates 27 and pivoted plates 23, but in a less convenient manner. During theelevation of the support 10 with the leaf sections 11, the .outer ends of the latter approach each other and travel upon the rollers 51.

, It is to be observed thatthe bar or center support 10 is. vertically movable without disturbing the main table-top and constitutes an independent feature dis posed between the leaf-sections 11, which may also be raised and lowered without disturbing said top; 7

I" do not limit my inventionto the specific 11001;

plates 23 and pins 28 for hinging' the inner ends of the leaf-sections 11 to the central support 10.- The central support 10 is employed in connection with'the-l' etKL, frame 16 and foot-rframe 17 which respectivelysupport' dominal parts are ,held by the supportlO and-upon proper occasions by the leaf. sections 11 also. #The entire table top may be given an inclined position when occasion renders the same desirable, and the and foot frames being hinged may be independently clined as the conditions may render necessary: I My invention affords very convenient means, ina operating table, for elevating or raising th dalidominal" part of a patient to facilitate abdominal operations and bandaging. v L What I claim as my invention and desire "to secureby Letters-Patent, I 1 I i 1 In an operating-table for the' use of surgeons, a table between .said frames, a transverse bar interposed in said middle section, and braces on said bar at each side of its center to confine the abdominal parts of a. patient thereon, combined with means for supporting said bar, and means for' raising and lowering the same, said bar being adapted, when raised, to the Support of the abdominal parts of apatient; substantially asset forth.

2. In an -operating-table, a table-top, a transverse bar interposed therein to afford a center-support, and adjustable braces on said support at each side of the center thereof, said support having a series of recesses along its length to receive and afiorda lock for the lower portions of said braces, combined. with meanssupporting said bar, and means for raising and. lowering the same; substantially as set forth. n p 3. In an operatingtable for the use of surgeons, a tabletop comprising head and foot frames a middle section between said frames, and a transverse bar interposed in .said middle section, said'middle. section comprising leaf; sections at opposite sides of said bar free to slide 'at'their outer endsand having at their inner ends means ofconnection with said bar, combined with means for supporting-said bar, and means for raising and. lowering the of the abdominal parts of 'a t'ie'nt"; substantially as set forth. a

4. In an operatlng-ta'bl for the use; is rgeon'a'a table- 'top comprising head and-foot final middle-section between said framesfanda transverse a nterposed in said middle section, said mfddle section comprising leafsections at opposite sides of said bar treeto' slide at their outer ends,' combined with separable means for hinglng the inner ends of said leaf-sections to said bar, means for supporting said bar, and means for raising and. lowering the same, said bar being adapted, when raised, to the support of the abdominal parts of a patient; substantially as set forth; v r

5. Injan operating-table for the use of 'surgedns, a tabletop comprising head and foot frames, a middle section between said fra'mes, and a transverse bar interposed in said 'middl e -section saiti 'middle sec'tlon comprising leafsectionsat opposite sides of sald'bar'free to slide at their outer nd and having attheir inner ends means of connection. vidth-Q-said bar, combined with means pivotally mounting saidi table top as a whole, means for supporting said bar; and means for raising and lowering the same, said bar being adapted, when raised, to the support of the ab- ,tlomlnalg-parts of a patient; substantially as set forth.

6; In an" operatlng-table, a table-top, a transverse bar fer-posed therein to affords center support,. means for sing andlowe'rlng said support, leaf-sections mounted said top at ;opposit'e ,sldes of said support and free to ll de at theilr ont erends movable' plates on the ends of a i suppprt engage the inner ends of said sections, and eans foi ifthrowlngsaid istesmm and out of operative position, whereby Said support; maybe raised alone or be edmpelledt to caifljy the'inner'ends of said sections with it;

tinin: operatingiable, atable-top, a transverse bar "interposed .-thei'eln to, afford a center support, means for raising and lowering said stipport, leaf-sections mounted {in'sald' top at opposite' sides of said support and free to slide at their outer ends, hook-plates 23 pivotally securedin'pal'rs on ,the ends or said support, and cam-plates 27 carried at the ends of. said support for moving said plates 23,,ll'nwardly clearof or outwardly to engage the inner eiids of said sections, said sections having pins to be engage' d by 'sal'd hook-plates when the latter are in their i outerj opera tive position; substantiallyas set forth.

,Slgiied at"New.York city, in the county of New York State: of, New York, this 5th day of February A. D.

5 BERNARD D. THORNER.

An'rrwn MARION,

tdp comprising head and 'foot frames, a' middle section I L "Cass. C. Gino. 

